Cumberland approves Phantom Farms brewpub permissions, event liquor permits and multiple license renewals

The Cumberland Board of License Commissioners and the Cumberland Town Council voted on March 5 to approve several liquor, food-service and entertainment permits that town officials said will support local events and a new brewpub operation.

At the Board of License Commissioners meeting the panel granted a class B nontransferable (BNT) license to Ocean State Brewing Company doing business as Phantom Farms Brewing at 30 Martin Street. The board recorded the approval as 6 to 0 (Councilman Metivier absent). The vote was noted as pending receipt of an insurance certificate, ServSafe certification and the Department of Health business license.

Also before the board, Good Vibes Beverage LLC received approval for multiple class F1 one-day full-liquor licenses to cover Diamond Hill Food Truck and Concert Nights and the Cumberland Community Celebration on the dates listed in the application. Eric, representing the event organizer, told commissioners the company is “looking forward to being back in Diamond Hill Park” and that the change supports a local small business. The board approved those one-day licenses 6 to 0.

At the Town Council session later the council approved a first-class kitchen (victualing house) license for Ocean State Brewing/Phantom Farms to allow limited on-site food service as the business pursues a state brewpub amendment. Jay Nephew, who identified himself as representing Ocean State Brewing Company at 30 Martin Street, said the kitchen will provide “quick serve” items such as pressed sandwiches, cheese plates and flatbread pizzas and that the town license is the first step before seeking a state brewpub license. The council recorded the victualing-house license as approved 6 to 0, pending the same certificates noted above.

The council also approved an entertainment license for the Blackstone Valley Garden Club for its annual plant sale at the Cumberland Monastery on May 17, 2025. Director Crowley and councilors said the approval is contingent on an insurance certificate and a signed lease for the property; the council approved the entertainment license 6 to 0.

Councilors handled a slate of routine renewals in grouped votes. The meeting record shows the council approved: 21 entertainment-license renewals; three firearm permits; three hawker licenses; 60 holiday licenses; six junk and secondhand dealer permits; kennel licenses presented as a grouped item; and 16 private-detective licenses. The minutes record each grouped package as approved by voice vote, typically 6 to 0.

Votes at a glance

• Board of License Commissioners — class B nontransferable license, Ocean State Brewing (Phantom Farms Brewing), 30 Martin St.: approved 6–0; pending insurance, ServSafe, Dept. of Health. (Motion recorded by Commissioner Kinch; seconds by Commissioners McGill and Bolio.)

• Board of License Commissioners — multiple Class F1 one-day full-liquor licenses, Good Vibes Beverage LLC (Diamond Hill events): approved 6–0. (Applicant representative Eric spoke in favor.)

• Cumberland Town Council — first-class kitchen (victualing house) license, Ocean State Brewing/Phantom Farms Brewing: approved 6–0; pending insurance, ServSafe, Dept. of Health. (Motion by Councilor Shaw; second by Councilor McGill.)

• Cumberland Town Council — entertainment license, Blackstone Valley Garden Club (plant sale, May 17, 2025): approved 6–0; pending insurance certificate and signed lease.

• Cumberland Town Council — grouped renewals (entertainment, firearm, hawker, holiday, junk/secondhand, private-detective, kennels): approved in grouped votes (meeting record shows voice votes; counts recorded in the minutes as 6–0 for the packages where noted).

The approvals include standard conditions in the minutes. For the Phantom Farms approvals the record lists the same outstanding items — insurance, ServSafe certification and Department of Health license — that must be filed before confirmation of final license issuance.